Gear control for automobiles



E. B. MORRIS. GEAR CONTROL F03 AuToMonEs.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I5, I9 2I.

rammed oct. 24,1923

2 SHEETS-SHEE l.

5 H/ .MM We, E

E. B. MORRIS.

GEAR CONTROL FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED OCT. I5. 192|. 1,433,023. Patented 001241922 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'at other times when it EDWARD MORRIS, 0F OAKLAND, CALF3NIA SSIGNR CLT. NEJIAIJLU T0 CHARLES BURNS, VDI GAKIAII'D. CALIFORNIA..

GEAR. CONTROL EUR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed October 15, 1921. Serial No. 597,903.

To @Zt whom- 25 mo/,g/ con-cero.' y

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. MORRIS, a citizen oit the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of Cal Pornia, have invented new and useful'Improvements in Gear Controls for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

, My invention relates to an improved device for holding the control pedal of planetary change speed transmission such as eniployed'on 4Ford automobiles, incertain positions whereby holding` of the pedal with the foot is unnecessary.

' In automobiles `oi! the .above type to operate in low or first speed the operatorl must hold the pedal in a certain position against the action of a still spring. In negotiating mountain grades or Along hills and is necessary7 to operate in low it is an exceedingly tiresome operation to hold the pedal in low or first speed position. Accordingly I have provided a' device by means of which the pedal may be locked in a quickly releasable manner in low position and I therefore obviate the necessity of holding the pedal in low lposition with the foot and accordingly remove one of the chief objections to cars of this type. y

Another object of the invention is to provide a deviceof the character described which may be easily attached to an automobile and associated with the control mechanism for the gears without necessitating any change in the construct-ion of the automobile, and which is relatively simple as to construction, inexpensive and reliable in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pedal holding gear controlling device ot the character described in which a double toothed rack bar and double pawl are provided whereby when one set oi1 the teeth and one pawl tooth becomes worn the other teeth may be employed by a simple reversal of the arrangement ot such parts, thus rendering the device exceptionally `durable and capable ot double service.

Another` object is to provide a device of the. character described vwhich will auto- Inatically release its hold on the pedal when the latter is pushed inwardly slightly, while held in either neutral or low positions, the locking or holding operation being ei"- ected by a pedal operated means which is actuated by one foot while the other toot is employed to push the pedal to the position in which it may be locked.

The invention possesses other advantages and features some ot which, with the toregoing will be set forth at length in the Yfol.- lowing `description where I shall outline in t'ull that forni of the invention which. I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming a part oi the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one form ot' the construction ot' my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form since the invention as expressed in the claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary vertical sectional view talren through an automobile, showing the gear control pedal' and the device of this invention as when ready for use, the pedal being free and in high7 position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to F ig. l but showing the pedal held by the device of this invention, in low position.

F 3 is a fragmentary topplan view of the operating rod showing the special adjusting means therefor. y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing in detail the manner of mounting and supporting the pedal tor operating the holding device.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of an automobile showing a modified form of the invention associated therewith.

Fig. is an enlarged side elevation of the double pawl. 4

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the pawl `and its mounting, the pawl being broken away in part and shown in section.

lhg. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view ot the double rack bar.

Referring to the embodiment oi" the iu vcntion shown in Figs. l lo 4- inclusive, of the accompanying drawings, l designates the floor boards of an automobile havingY a planetary transmission (not shown), auch as a Ford, operated by the customary pedal 3. This pedal is normally urged into back or high7 position as shown in the drawings, by a stift' spring (not shown), and is moved into and held inv neutral `(midway) and low (foremost) position against this spring action.

The device of my invention is for holding the pedal in either low or neutral posi-..

invention is the same as that previously described except as to the means oit operating the device so as to hold the pedal in either low or neutral position. Preferably the pawl biturcated, the opposite sides of the slotted bar, bearing upon the sides ot the rack bar so as to steady the same.

I claim:

l. ln a device of the character described, the combination of the gear control pedal of an automobile, which pedal requires manually holding thereof in certain of its positions, ot a rack bar attached to and movable with the pedal, a pawl pivoted to a ixed part ot the automobile and slidably supporting the rack bar, spring means normally holding the said pawl out of engagement with the rack bar and means manually operable from the drivers seat `for moving the said pawl into position to engage and hold the rack bar against movement.

2. In a device o'lf the character described, the combination of the gear control pedal of an automobile, which pedal requires manu- `ally holding thereof in certain of 'its positions, oit a rack attached to and movablewith the pedal, a pawl pivoted to a liXed part of the automobile and slidably supporting the rack bar, spring means normally holding the said pavvl out of engagement With the rack bar and means manually operable from the drivers seat for moving the said paivl into position to engage and hold the raclr bar against movement, said rack bar having a longitudinal slot therein through which the pivot member of the paivl extends.

3. In a device o' the character described, the combination of the gear control pedal of an automobile, Which pedal requires manually holding thereof in certain of its positions, of a rack attached to and movable vith the pedal, a pawl pivoted to a fined part ot the automobile and slidably supporting the rack bar, spring means normally holding the said pavvl out of engagement with the rack bar and means manually operable from the drivers seat for moving the 4said pawl into position to engage and hold the rack bar against movement, said rack bar having teeth upon opposite longitudinal edges thereof and an extra tooth upon said paivl `whereby upon wear of the parts, the rack bar and paivl may be reversed to provide for use of the last named. tooth thereof.

4. ln a device of the character described in combination with a change speed control pedal of an automobilesaid pedal adapted to be held by the foot in certain of its positions, of a rack bar attached to and movable with said pedal, a paivl, a member pivotally supporting said paivl on a lined part of an a-utombile, said rack bar having a slot therein through which `said member extends, means for moving the said pawl into position to hold the rack bar against movement and means Which When the pedal is depressed, Will automatically move said pawl out of holding position.

5. In a device of the character described the combination with a change speed control pedal of an automobile said pedal adapted to be held by thev foot in certain of its positions, of a rack bar attached to and movable with said pedal,v a paWl, a member pivotally supporting said pavvl on a fixed part of an automobile, said rack bar having a slot therein through which said member eX- tends, a second pedal, a rocker member connected With said pedal, a rod connected With said rocker member and pawl and a spring normally holding the said pedal, rocker arm, rod and paivl, in inoperative position.

6. Ina device ofthe character described the combination with a change speed control pedal of an automobile said pedal adapted to be held by the foot in certain of its positions, of a rack bar attached to and movable with saidpedal, a paWl, a member pivotally supporting said pawl on a fixed part of an automobile, said` rack bar having a slot therein through Which said' member extends, a second pedal, a rocker member connected with said pedal, a rod connected'with said rocker member and pavvl and a spring normally holding the said pedal, a rocker arm, rod and pawl, in inoperative position said rod being longitudinally adjustable.

EDWARD B, MORRIS. 

